Tote bag for fallen leaves



April 4, 1967 R. E. WAHLSTROM TOTE BAG FOR FALLEN LEAVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1965 INVENTOR.

I I I I April 4, 1967 R. E. WAHLSTROM 3,312,263

.TOTE BAG FOR FALLEN LEAVES Filed Sept. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RIC/M R0 5. WA HLSTROM A. 7' TORNEYSV United States Fatent O 3,312,263 TOTE BAG FOR FALLEN LEAVES Richard E. Wahlstrom, 1825 Deer Hill Road, Wayzata, Minn. 55391 Filed Sept. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 488,972 Claims. (Cl. 1502) The invention relates broadly to "bags and more particularly to a bag construction for collecting and carrying fallen leaves.

Since time immemorial the problem of removing fallen leaves from lawns has plagued mankind.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and novel bag in which leaves may be effectively collected, bound up vand hauled.

It will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to the invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred to in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tote bag in opened condition.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the tote bag in a filled closed position a portion of which is broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the tote bag in opened condition.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the bag support member removed from the bag.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the bag support in a folded position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the tote bag A includes the bottom panel 10 made up of the two rectangular portions 12 and 14 secured together at the inner edges by sewing or the like as at 16. Further provided is the first upper panel 18 which is secured by sewing of the like at its outer longitudinal edge to the outer edge of the bottom panel as at 20. The transverse lower edge of the panel 18 is secured by sewing or the like to the lower transverse edge of the bottom panel as at 22.

The numeral 24 designates a second upper panel which is secured by sewing or the like at its outer longitudinal edge to the outer longitudinal edge of the bottom panel as at 26. The transverse lower edge of the panel 24 is secured by sewing or the like to the lower transverse edge of the bottom panel as at 28. A portion of the inner edges of the first and second upper panels 18 and 24 from the lower edges thereof to point x are secured together by sewing or the like to form a pocket P extending across a portion of the lower end of the bottom panel 10, the remaining inner longitudinal edges of the panels 18 and 24 being free, whereby the panels may be spread open from substantially point x as particularly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. The panels actually extend from the pocket P. The bag portions 12, 14, 18 and 24 may be made of canvas, plastic or any other suitable flexible sheet material. Secured to the upper end of the bottom panel 10 are the pair of loops and 32 in side-by-side relationship through which the users arms are extended for use in dragging or lifting the bag A.

The numeral 34 designates a support for the pocket P, and this support includes the semi-circular brace portion '36 which extends substantially 180 and terminates at one end in the spaced inturned feet 38 and at the other end in the spaced inturned feet 40. The feet 38 ice and 40 are substantially on the diameter of the brace portion 36. Further included in the support 34 is the arcuate leg portion 42 extending substantially the lower end of which terminates in the spaced inturned feet 44. The upper end of the leg portion 42 is pivotally connected to a point centrally of the portion 36 by means of the nut-equipped bolt 46. The arc of formation of the leg portion 42 is the same as that of the brace portion 36 and the length of the leg 42 is slightly less than one half of the brace portion whereby the leg 42 may be pivotally folded into the compact position shown in FIGURE 6. In use the support 34 is inserted into the pocket portion P with the outer end of the leg 42 against the lower inner surface of the juncture of the lower inner edges of the panels 18 and 24 with the feet 44 upon the bottom panel 10. The brace portion 36 extends transversely of ,the bottom 10 at point x and is secured at point x by means of the bolt 46 extending through both the panels 18 and 24 at that point with the feet 40 and 38 adjacent the lower outer edges of the panels 18 and 24, respectively, and the feet 38 and 40 upon the bottom 10 as particularly shown in FIGURE 4.

The lower ends of the brace portion 36 maybe fastened to the lower edges of the panels 1 8 and 24 by means of nut-equipped bolts 47 or the like through the holes 48 and 50. As a result, the support 34 is securely and removably positioned in the pocket portion P of the bag A. The support 34 is easily removed by removing the bolts 47 and folded by pivotally moving the leg 42 into a position parallel with the brace portion 36. The su port 34 in a folded condition may be wrapped within the bag A in a rolled up condition. Alternatively the leg 42 may be folded in alignment with the support '34 with the support remaining within the pocket P and the entire unit folded.

The upper inner corners of the panels 18 and 24 are formed with grommets 52 and 54, respectively, in which the tie members 56 are secured and which may be tied to hold the device in the closed position of FIGURE 2.

The tote bag A is used in the following manner: The bag A is placed with the bottom panel fiat upon the ground with the panels 18 and 24 laid apart and separated as particularly in FIGURE 1. The panel 24 may be supported ina more or less vertical position as shown in FIG- URE l by inserting the upper end of the stake 60 into the grommet 54 and the lower end into the ground. The stake 60 may be omitted and the bag laid open as in FIG- URE 3. Wit-h the panel 24 supported in part by the stake 60 the panel provides a partial wall against which leaves are contained as the same are piled upon the bottom panel 10. Leaves are first stuffed in the pocket P portion of the bag and as the pocket is filled the contained leaves create a semblance of a wall allowing additional leaves to be pushed against the same to thereby pile leaves on the entire bottom 10 and between the panels 18 and 24. With leaves filling the pocket P and piled upon the bottom 10 and contained between the panels 18 and 24, the panels 18 and 24 are then placed upon the piled leaves and tied by means of the tie members 56 as particularly illustrated in FIGURE 2. The bag A may then be pulled by means of the straps to a place for removal of the leaves L by untying the ties 56, separating the panels 18 and 24 and removing the leaves.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A tote bag for fallen leaves comprising:

(a) a fiat rectangular bottom panel,

(b) a first upper fiat rectangular panel secured at its outer longitudinal edge to the longitudinal outer edge of said bottom panel and at its lower transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of said bottom panel,

() a second upper fiat rectangular panel secured at its outer longitudinal edge to the longitudinal outer edge of said bottom panel opposite to the first mentioned longitudinal edge and at its lower transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of said bottom panel,

(d) a portion of the inner edge of each of said first and second panels joined to form a pocket extending for a portion of the length of said firs-t and second panels and said bottom panel,

(e) a support including a semi-circular brace portion and (f) an arcuate leg connected at its upper end to said brace portion centrally thereof,

(g) said support member positioned upon said bottom panel and within said pocket to support said pocket in an open position, and

(h) means for securing said first and second upper panels together and upon said bottom panel.

2. A tote bag for fallen leaves comprising:

(a) a fiat rectangular bottom panel,

(b) a pocket formed on a portion of said bottom panel at the lower end and extending transversely thereof, the upper edge of said pocket being open,

(c) first and second upper panels extending from the upper edge of said pocket and overlying said bottom panel,

(d) a support including a semi-circular brace portion and (e) an arcuate leg connected at its upper end to said brace portion centrally thereof,

(f) said support member positioned upon said b ttom panel and within said pocket to support said pocket in an open position, and

(g) means for securing said first and second upper panels together and upon said bottom panel.

3. A tote bag for fallen leaves comprising:

(a) a fiat rectangular bottom panel,

(b) a pocket formed on a portion of said bottom panel at the lower end and extending transversely thereof, the upper edge of said pocket being open,

(c) first and second upper panels extending from the upper edge of said pocket and overlying said bottom panel,

(d) a support including a semi-circular brace portion,

(e) means for securing said support at the upper edge of said pocket to hold the same in an open position,

(i) means for securing said first and second upper panels together and upon said bottom panel.

4. A tote bag for fallen leaves comprising:

(a) a flat rectangular bottom panel,

(b) a first upper fla-t rectangular panel secured at its l outer longitudinal edge to the longitudinal outer edge of said bottom panel and at its lower transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of said bottom panel,

(0) a second upper fiat rectangular panel secured at its outer longitudinal edge to'the longitudinal outer edge of said bottom panel opposite to the first mentioned longitudinal edge and at its lower transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of said bottom panel,

((1) a portion of the inner edge of each of said first and second panels joined to form a pocket extending for a portion of the length of said first and second panels and said bottom panel,

(e) a support including a semi-circular brace portion and (f) an arcuate leg pivotally connected at its upper end to said brace portion centrally thereof,

(g) said support member positioned upon said bottom panel and within said pocket with said arcuate leg of said support pivotally extended from said brace portion to support said pocket in an open position,

( h) said arcuate leg of said support being pivotally movable to a position coextensive'with a portion of said support to allow folding of said panels about the same with a minimum of bulk, and

(i) means for securing said first and second upper panels together and upon said bottom panel.

5. A tote bag for fallen leaves comprising:

(a) a flat rectangular bottom panel,

(b) a pocket formed on a portion of said bottom panel at the lower end and extending transversely thereof, the upper edge of said pocket being open,

(c) first and second upper panels extending from the upper edge of said pocket and overlying said bottom panel,

(d) a support including a semi-circular brace portion and (e) an arcuate leg pivotally connected at its upper end to said brace portion centrally thereof,

(f) said support member positioned upon said bottom panel and within said pocket with said arcuate leg of said support pivotally extended from said brace portion to support said pocket in an open position,

(g) said arcuate leg of said support being pivotally movable to a position coextensive with a portion of said support to allow folding of said panels about the same with a minimum of bulk, and

(h) means for securing said first and second upper panels together and upon said bottom panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TOTE BAG FOR FALLEN LEAVES COMPRISING: (A) A FLAT RECTANGULAR BOTTOM PANEL, (B) A FIRST UPPER FLAT RECTANGULAR PANEL SECURED AT ITS OUTER LONGITUDINAL EDGE TO THE LONGITUDINAL OUTER EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND AT ITS LOWER TRANSVERSE EDGE TO THE LOWER TRANSVERSE EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, (C) A SECOND UPPER FLAT RECTANGULAR PANEL SECURED AT ITS OUTER LONGITUDINAL EDGE TO THE LONGITUDINAL OUTER EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL OPPOSITE TO THE FIRST MEMTIONED LONGITUDINAL EDGE AND AT ITS LOWER TRANSVERSE EDGE TO THE LOWER TRANSVERSE EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, (D) A PORTION OF THE INNER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS JOINED TO FORM A POCKET EXTENDING FOR A PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS AND SAID BOTTOM PANEL, (E) A SUPPORT INCLUDING A SEMI-CIRCULAR BRACE PORTION AND (F) AN ARCUATE LEG CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO SAID BRACE PORTION CENTRALLY THEREOF, (G) SAID SUPPORT MEMBER POSITIONED UPON SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND WITHIN SAID POCKET TO SUPPORT SAID POCKET IN AN OPEN POSITION, AND (H) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID FIRST AND SECOND UPPER PANELS TOGETHER AND UPON SAID BOTTOM PANEL. 